Bexhill man drives drunk to complain about being barred from pub....for being drunk

A 40-year-old man has been banned from driving after he drove drunk to argue with doorstaff - for barring him from their pub for being too drunk.

Staff at the Devonshire in Bexhill had refused to let Patrick Cunningham in have he tried several times to go to the pub in Devonshire Square on 19 June.

Despite having drunk five pints of lager, the 40-year-old got into his Hyundai Santa Fe and drove home but then changed his mind and drove back to the pub.

When Cunningham arrived back at the Devonshire, the doorstaff tried to get him out of his car but one of the pub workers was knocked down when the car reversed into him. The doorstaff then restrained him.

Cunningham, of Jarvis Brook Close, Bexhill, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and assault. He was banned from driving for 22 months and was ordered to pay a £147 fine and £50 compensation.

Superintendent Jane Derrick said: "Cunningham was so drunk that he couldn't get into a pub but thought it was acceptable for him to get behind the wheel.

"It is lucky that his selfish actions didn't cause a serious accident before he knocked down the worker at the pub.

"Thankfully the worker did not suffer any serious injury but he could have."